Freedom of Information Act Requests

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) provides that any person has the right to request access to federal agency records or information. Like all federal agencies, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is required to disclose records requested in writing by any person. However, agencies may withhold information pursuant to nine exemptions and three exclusions contained in the statute. FOIA applies only to federal agencies and does not create a right of access to records held by Congress, the courts, or state or local government agencies.

Below are "quick links" to specific FOIA-related information. We encourage the public to explore BLS and DOL websites to see if the information you seek is already publicly available.

Statistical data produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics may be obtained without making a request under FOIA. Statistical data questions or special data requests should be submitted directly to the appropriate BLS program that produces the data. Submitting your questions to the appropriate BLS program or the BLS Division of Information and Marketing Services is the most direct way to receive the answers you are seeking, and we recommend it over submitting a FOIA request. Please contact the Division of Information and Marketing Services or the BLS program that produces the data before submitting your FOIA request for BLS data products.

BLS FOIA Information

How to make a FOIA request

The Freedom of Information Act provides any person the right to request access to records held by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The request must be in writing and signed by the person making the request, and it must reasonably describe the records being requested. The Department of Justice's homepage provides the full text of the Freedom of Information Act.

In making your request, you should be as specific as possible in describing the records requested. The more specific you are about the records or types of records you are requesting, the more likely it will be that the BLS can locate those records.

There are statutory FOIA exemptions that authorize the withholding of information in certain specific circumstances. If BLS does withhold information requested under the FOIA, we will specify in our response the FOIA exemption under which the information is being withheld.

BLS FOIA contacts

You should address your FOIA request for BLS records to:

U.S. Department of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics

FOIA Disclosure Officer

Room 4080 Postal Square Building

2 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E.

Washington, DC 20212-0001

Or fax your request to:

Bureau of Labor Statistics

FOIA Disclosure Officer

(202) 691-5111

The BLS FOIA Coordinator can be reached at (202) 691-7628.

BLS FOIA Service Center

FOIA requesters seeking information concerning the status of their FOIA request within BLS, information about the agency's FOIA response, or general information on the agency's FOIA practices and resources may contact the service center at (202) 691-7628 or bls.foia@bls.gov.